Saturday, April 14, 2012

Talks between the Philippines and China over a fishing dispute in the South China Sea remain deadlocked despite an apparent end to a standoff between Chinese fishing boats and Philippine naval vessels, according to the Philippine government.

Albert del Rosario, the Philippine foreign secretary, said eight Chinese fishing vessels that sparked the incidenthad left waters near the islands of Scarborough Shoal on Friday as negotiations were continuing.

Del Rosario said in a statement that he only learned of the departure of the Chinese boats while meeting Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing on the dispute. He said the Chinese boats had taken their catches with them, despite Philippine efforts to claim the haul.